Antifriction bearing



. Aug. 23, 1927. 1,640,208

- J. F. OCONNQR ANTIFRICTION BEARING Filed May 14. 1924 k\\\\\\\\ j\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \wl M wizzz Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

- W. H. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AN TIFRICTION BEARING.

Application filed May 14, 1924. Serial No. 713,125.

This invention relates to improvements in anti-friction bearings.

One object of this invention is to provide an anti-friction bearing especially adapted for use as a side bearing on railway cars and wherein the parts are so arranged that the anti-friction elements proper will be returned to normal position automatically when the load is released.

Another object of my invention is to provide an anti-frictionv bearing especially adapted for railway side bearings, so designed that a plurality of anti-friction elements are employed which are automatically returned to their normal position after being actuated, this returning movement being under the influence of gravity as well as with the aid of a torsion member.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an anti-friction bearing employing at least two rocking anti-friction elements, each of which is normally positioned at one extreme end of its path of movement, said elements being oppositely disposed so that one element will always be available for full travel regardless of the direction in which the side bearing is actuated.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will more clearly appear fromthe description and claims hereinafter followmg.

In the drawing'forming a partof this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the ends of the body and truck bolsters of a railway car, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the side bearing. And Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, 10 denotes the upper side of a truck bolster of a railway car and 11 the under portion of the body bolster opposed thereto.

Referring to the drawing, the improved side bearing is shown as applied to the truck bolster and comprises broadly. a basecasting, housing or-retaining member A; a pair of anti-friction elements or rockers BB; a bearing plate C; and a torsion member D.

The housing A is of more or less box-like form, comprising vertical end walls 12 curved to conform to the contour of the antifriction elements as will be hereinafter described and also provided with vertical side walls 13 having laterally ofl'set recessed portions or guideways 14 therein. Each of the guideways 14 has a pair of vertically extending parallel opposed side walls as at 15, thence inclined toward one another at 16, and connected at their upper ends by a horizontal flange 17. A wear member or beam ing plate C, preferably of hardened material, is adapted to be interposed between the housing and the truck bolster, the housing being provided with offset lugs 18 at its bottom to receive rivets 19'for securing the housing to the bearing plate. Rivets 20 may be used for securing, the bearing plate 0 to the truck bolster. The top and bottom of the housing are open and the anti-friction rocking elements B are arranged in longitudinal alinement therein so as to rock toward one another and project through the open top of the housing.

These elements B, which are of like size and shape, are arranged in alinement longitudinally of the housing, each of the elements being somewhat triangular in vertical cross section longitudinally of the housing, the sides 22 of the elements being drawn on radii greater than the height of the elements themselves and the corners of the elements are rounded on a very much shorter radius, as indicated at 21. Each of the anti-friction elements is provided with three transversely extending openings 23 therethrough, these openings being equally spaced from the center of the element and symmetrically arranged with reference to the surface of the same, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

On approach of and relative rotative movement of the bolsters, the engagement of the rocker elements by both the upper and the'lower bearing plates will cause an actuation of one ofthe elements in one direction, causing said element to rock on its lower bearingface to lift the top face above the top of the other' rocker, and upon removal of the pressure, said actuated rocker will tend to return through gravity to 'its normal position at the end of the housing. In order to accelerate the returning movement of the actuated rocker and to insure a more positive returning movement of the form is arranged to coact with both of the rockers. This spring member comprises a pair of spaced parallel legs 24 and 25 adapted to lie in the same plane, an intermediate leg 26 parallel to said first-named legs and lying in a plane above the plane of the legs 24 and 25, and laterally extending connecting portions 27-2'7, each connecting one end of the intermediate leg with an end of one of the outermost legs. The member D is arranged so that one of the outer legs, as for instance, the leg 24, is slidably extended through one of the openings 23 of one rocker and the other outer leg 25 is extended through an opening 23 ot' the other rocker, these legs extending through the openings in the rockers in opposite directions and projecting at their/tree ends into said recesses 14-. The central leg 26 lies between the adjacent surfaces of the rockers as shown. It will be noted that the openings 23 are so situated that the particular openings through which the outer legs of the member D are inserted will lie just within and engage the flanges 15 when the rockers are in normal positionat the ends of the housing.

The operation of the bearing is as follows, assun'iing that the loaded bolster 11 is moved to the right relatively'ot the bolster 10. The ant-friction elements being in their position at the opposite ends of the housing and lying against the vertical end walls thereof, the holster 11 will engage the tops 21 of both the elements, but inasmuch as one of them is necessarily at its limit of movement in that direction in which the bolster 11 is moving, that element will remain stationary vhile the other element is free to rock about its bottom bearing face relatively toward the stationary element to the dotted line position shown and will, therefore, take the entire load, said actuated element lifting its top ace above the top of the other element and rocking until itabuts against the stationary element. During the movement of the element B'that has been actuated under load, the spring member D-will pivot about their outer legs until the laterally extending portion 2? connecting the center leg with the leg 25 inserted through the stationary element engages against the inclined flange 16 ot the oiiset recess 14, thus limiting any tnrther pivotal movement of the leg 25 relative to the stationary element. Thismovement of the spring, caused by the actuation of? the actuated rocker, produces a torsion in the central leg of the spring, and as soon as the load is released, this torsional force actingin addition to the force of gravity, tends to return the actuated rocker to its normal position. At this time it might be mentioned that the intermediate leg 26 is at a higher elevation than the legs 25, the connecting portions 27 being arranged normally to form an angle of approximately 120 and forming an angle otapproximately at the end of movement otone of the elements relatively toward the other.

It will be evident that when one set of wear faces of the rockers become worn or damaged, either of the two remaining sets 01 faces may be brought into operative rela tion by removing the spring from one of the openings and inserting it into either of the remaining openings of the rocker. Thus it is seen that the elements will normally be retained at the opposite ends of the housing and when the body bolster moves in one direction under load, only one of the rocker elements will talre the load to the end of its travel.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner oi carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all'changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim 1. In an anti-friction bearing the combination with a housing adapted to be secured to a bolster or the like: of a pair of anti-trio tion elements arranged therein in alinement longitudinally of said housing, only one of said elements taking the load and moving relatively of the other when the bearing is actuated; and a spring inter-connecting said elements for returning the actuated element to normal position when the load is released, said spring having a pair of oppositely extended legs, one of which is insert-able into each element.

2. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a housing adapted to be secured to a bolster; of a pair of anti-friction elements arranged at opposite ends therein, only one of them taking the load and movmg relatively of the other when the bearing is actuated; and a torsion spring inter-0on necting said elements for returning the actuated element to normal position when the load is released, said torsion spring having a pair of legs pivotally insertable in opposite directions in said elements, and a leg intermediate said pair ot legs and adapted to lie between said elements to space them apart, said intermediate leg being placed under torsion when one of said elements is actuated under load.

3. In an anti-friction bearing for railway cars, the combination with a housing having laterally oifset recesses in its side walls; of a'pair of anti-frietion elements arranged to roll in said housing; and a spring interconnecting said elements, said spring having a pair of substantially parallel legspivotally insertable in opposite directions through said elements and projecting therebeyond into said recesses, an intermediate leg substantially parallel to and above said firstname'd legs'and arranged to lie bet-ween said elements, and laterally extending. portions each connecting one end of said intermediate leg with one of said outer legs and adapted to project into said recesses and engage the side walls thereof, whereby said intermediate leg will be twisted to produce torsion therein when one of said elements is actuated under load toward the other.

4. In an anti-friction bearing, the combi nation with a housing adapted to be secured to a bolster or the like; of a pair of loadtransmitting rockers arranged therein, only one of said rockers taking the load and moving relatively of the other when the bearing is actuated, each of said rockers having a plurality of sets of wear faces, and said rockers being adjustable to present new wear surfaces to take the load when the others become worn; and centering means detachably associated with said rockers and -=arranged for engagement with said rockers in their various adjusted positions.

5. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a retainer provided with a bearing surfaceg-of a plurality of rocking members each including oppositely disposed bearing faces, the faces of said rocking mem bers adjacent said bearing surface being disposed in engagement therewith, said rocking members and retainer being constructed to permit relative movement of one rocking member with reference to the other, the bearing faces of said rocking members being shaped to project the bearing face of one member beyond the outer bearing face of the adjacent member, upon relative movement of said members with respect to each other;

and means inter-connecting said members for returning the actuated member to normal position when the same is free from load.

6. In an anti-friction bearing for railway cars, the combination with relatively movable bolsters, one of which has means providing a bearing surface; of a plurality of rocking members interposed between said bolster, and having opposite bearing faces, one set of which is disposed in engagement with said bearing surface while the other bearing faces are arranged in remote relation with reference to said bearing surface, said rocking members being formed and shaped to permit relative movement of one toward the other and to effect projection of the outer bearing face of one of said members beyond the outer bearing face of the other of said members during movement of the actuated rocking member toward the other; means limiting movement of said rocking members in a direction away from each other to effect independent movement of one of said members with respect to the other, depending upon the direction of move ment of said bolsters when said rocking members are under load; and a torsion spring inter-connecting said rocking members for resisting the movement of one of said rocking members with reference to the other to return the actuated rocker to normal position when free from load.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day of May, 1924.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

